Coin-operated time control mechanism



1951 w. s. FARRELL 2,53,35

COIN OPERATED TIME CONTROL MECHANISM Original Filed March 6, 1943 3Sheets-Sheet 1 Jan. 16, 1951 W. S. FARRELL COIN OPERATED TIME CONTROLMECHANISM Original Filed March 6, 1945 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEY Jam 16,1951 w. s. FARRELL 2,538,353

COIN OPERATED TIME CONTROL MECHANISM Original Filed March 6, 1943 5Sheets-Sheet 5 Ag; A

' 89 SO I l 4 9 ZWMSIW I N VENTOR ATTORNEY Patented Jan. 16, 1951COIN-OPERATED TIME CONTROL MECHANISM William S. Farrell, Los Angeles,Calif.

Original application March 6, 1943, Serial No.

478,183, now Patent No. 2,413,?00, dated January 7, 1947. Divided andthis application 0ctober 21, 1946, Serial No. 704,737

1 My invention relates to entertainment reproducing systems and hasparticular reference to a system for reproducing at a plurality ofremotely situated control stations entertainment material produced orreproduced at a central source of such entertainment material, such asan automatic phonograph, radio receiver, television or other visual oraudible entertainment source which produces. such material, capable ofbeing transmitted over telephone wires and the like, in' which theamount of the entertainment material to be reproduced at each of thecontrol stations is controlled by the number or denomination of coinsdeposited in that particular control station. v

This application is a division of my copending application, Serial No.478,183, filed March 6, 1243 which has matured into Patent No. 2,413,700, issued January 7, 1947. v nFor ready understanding of myinvention, the

following description pertains to the embodiment of my invention in asound reproducing system such as that which may be employed with anautomatic phonograph as thecentral source of the material and the typeof reproducer of the entertainment material is shown anddescribed as aloud speaker for reproducingat the control station the entertainment inthe form of sound. However, it is to be understood that visual types ofentertainment may be employed equallywell with my system by substitutinga central source of visual entertainment and substituting at the controlstations a visual reproducer for such ma terial, and hence wherever theexpressions sound reproducing or sound reproduction are used herein, itis so used merely for purposes of conve'nience and is not intended toexclude such substituted visual reproduction. 7

.In my Patent No. 2,352,188., issued June 27, 1944, and entitled SoundReproducing System and Coin Collecting Actuator Therefor, I havephonograph or entertainment source as a result of coins deposited inother coin collecting mechanisms,

While this system has proved to be eminently satisfactory in practice,it does nevertheless embody certain disadvantages, among which may beenumerated-thefrelative complexity of the 5 Claims. (Cl. 194-9) i? 3,feet the startin and stopping of the reproduc tion abruptly as resultsfrom the closing and '5 ing the faintly reproduced orchestral number or,

mechanism and control circuits required to provide for the guarantee ofa full musical selection at each coin collecting station and thedifficultyof adapting the system to certain particular types ofautomatic phonographs or sound producing systems.

It has been found that the customer reaction. to a definite time ofreproduction as compared with the full selection type of reproduction isen- ,tirely'satisfactory and that a considerable proportion of thecomplexity of the device disclosed in my above mentioned patent can beavoided by operating the system on a definite time basis.

'It has also been found disadvantageous to efopening of an ordinarycontrol switch. Many times customers fail to realize that they havereceived the full amount of entertainment for which they have paid bythe deposit of the coinin the coincollecting device and are led, by theabruptness with which the-entertainment is discontinued, to believe thatthe mechanism has failedinsome respect to perform as it should.

I have also discovered that the desire in a custom'er toideposit a coinand have. musical sele c-..

tions and other entertainment reproduced for his benefit can. beheightened if the mechanism is so arranged'as to more or lesscontinuously .reproduce suchentertainment within the hearing of thecustomer but at such a low level as to be unsatisfactory forentertainment purposes. It

often occurs that a prospective customer under.

these circumstances will be so intrigued by hearsong that he is impelledto deposit a coin in the device in order that he may hear that sameselection with sufiicient loudness and clarity as to provide a pleasingresult.

It is therefore. an object of my invention to provide a soundreproducing system which overcomes certain of .the above noteddisadvantages by operating on a definite time principle wherein thedeposit of a coin in the coin collecting mechanism results in theentertainment, music or other material. emanating from a central sourcebeing reproduced for a definite period of time and solely at thelocation of the coin collecting mechanism in which the coin wasdeposited.

It is also an object of my invention to provide.

a sound reproducing system of 'the character set forth in the precedingparagraph which includes a coin receiving mechanism including means forplacing into operation a timing mechanism and wherein the. timing.mechanism in turn places 3 the reproducing system in operation so as toeffect the reproduction of previously recorded material at that locationand for a predetermined length of time.

It is a still further object of my invention to provide a soundreproducing system of the character set forth in the preceding paragraphin which two or more coins may be received in the coin collectingmechanism at one time and in which a means is provided for maintainingthe system operative for unbroken successive periods of time equal innumber to the number of coins deposited in the coin collectin mechanism.

It is additionally an object of my invention to provide in a system ofthe character set forth in the preceding paragraphs a means whichfunctions to apprise a customer who has previously deposited coins inthe coin collecting mechanism that the period of entertainment paid forby the deposited coins is about to expire.

It is also an object of my invention to pro-. vide a sound reproducingsystem of the character set forth in the preceding paragraphs whichincludes a means for starting and StQpPing the reproduction ofentertainment material at the beginning and end, respectively, of apredetermined time period and in which the starting and stopping is soarranged as to smoothly n gradually build up the volume ofthe reproducedentertainment from a substantially inaudible level to a satisfactoryaudible level and at the conclusion of the predetermined time periodgradually and uniformly reduce the level of the reproduced entertainmentto a substantially inaudible value.

It is a still further object of my invention to provide a soundreproducing system of the character set forth in the precedingparagraphs which includes an electromagnetic dynamic loud speaker havingits voice coil or signal receiving element permanently connected to thesource of reproduced entertainment and in which the placing of the loudspeaker into and out of operation is accomplished by completing andinterrupting the field supply circuit for the loud speaker.

Other objects and advantages of' my invention will be apparent from astudy of the following specifications, read in connection with theaccompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is an elevational view illustrating dia-- grammatically themanner of installation of the component parts of my sound reproducingsys-.

tem and the manner in which these parts are interconnected with eachother;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of one of the con-. trol units illustratedin Fig. 1, Fig. 2 illustrating the appearance of the control unit. whenthe cover portion thereof is removed;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary elevational view of the coin collecting andcontrolling mechanism comprising a part of the control unit. illustratedin Fig. 2, Fig. 3 illustrating the relative positions of the variousparts when the system is idle and before coins are deposited in the coinmechanism;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 but illustrating the relativepositions of the parts immediately subsequent to deposit of one or morecoins in the coin collecting mechanism;

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4 but illustrate ing the relativepositions of the parts at a time subsequent to the deposit of the coinsin the. coin collecting mechanism and illustrating the 4 manner in whicha deposited coin is conveyed to a coin receiver;

Fig. 6 is also a view similar to Fig. 3 but illustrating the relativepositions of the parts at the conclusion of the next to the last periodof entertainment reproduction paid for by the deposit of coins in thecoin collecting mechanism;

Fig. 7 is likewise a view similar to Fig. 3 but illustrating therelative positions of the parts a few seconds prior to the expiration ofthe final time period paid for by the deposit of coins in the coincollecting mechanism;

Fig. 8 is a cross sectional view taken through the timer shaft andcontrol cam hub illustrated in Figs. 3 through '7 and illustrating anovel form of friction clutch which is employed in the timing mechanism;

Fig. 9 is a plan view illustrating the component parts and the manner ofinterconnection of certain auxiliary equipment associated with thesystem of my invention; and

Fig. 10 is a schematic wiring diagram illustrating the electricalconnections employed in the preferred embodiment of my invention.

Referring to the drawing, I have illustrated in Fig. 1 a plurality ofcontrol units I asv being interconnected with each other and with asuitable, central source of entertainment which for purposes ofillustration herein is shown as an automatic phonograph 2 as by means ofa multiple conductor electric cable 3. The units I are each illustratedas being mounted at convenient intervals along a counter or bar 4 and itwill be ap-' preciated that this is but one of the many modes ofinstallation to which my invention is sus-l' to which the phonograph 2is illustrated as being connected as by means of an attachment cord 6.The system also includes an adaptor unit 1 which is connected betweenthe phonograph 2 and the control units l and which serves the purpose ofcontrolling the operation of the phonograph 2 in accordance with theoperation of the various control units 1. l 7

Each of the control units l is preferably constructed along the linesillustrated in Fig. 2', and includes a base structure 8 upon which thevarious control instrumentalities are mounted, which base structure isadapted to be enclosed by a suitable cover 9. The cover 9 preferablyincludes a means l0. which defines a coin slot ll into which coins maybe inserted by a customer. The cover 9 may be secured to, the basestructure 8 in any suitable manner and the attaching means is preferablyprovided with a, lock IE to prevent unauthorized entry intov themechanism.

The front portion of .the cover 9 is provided with a translucent ortransparent window l .'f adapted to be suitably illuminated as. by meansof lamps l4 and I5 mounted on the supporting structure 8. The frontportion of the cover 9 is similarly provided with a grill [6 or othersuitably decorated opening adapted to register with an electrodynamicloud speaker I1 mounted on the base unit 8.

The base member 8 may also carry a suitable terminal board 18 tofacilitate the electrical connections to the device and preferably alsomounts a suitable structure I!) for defining a coin re= ivin hannel, asw tch mecha sm 29. and a 5. timing mechanism 2| which may include atiming motor 80 and a time controlled cam dish '22." "The coin chute,switch and timing control mechanism above referred to are illustrated inmore detail in Figs. 3 through '7, each of which comprises anelevational view of that portion of the base structure 8 upon whichthese mecha nisms are mounted, the coin chute defining structure l9being illustrated with the cover portion thereof removed to show theconfiguration of the coin chute. v

- As is clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the coin chute is preferablydefined by a pair of thin members 25 and 24 which are spaced from eachother and secured to the base member 3 as by means of screws or otherattaching means25. The configuration of the members 23 and 24 is such asto define a coin chute 26 which is' so positioned as to register withthe coin slot H when the cover 9 is placed over the base member 8 andwhich extends downwardly through the first part of its length and thenturns to the right along an angular surface 21.

The angular portion 21 of the chute communicates with a verticallydisposed portion 28 situated between a shaft 29 of the timing mechanism2| and a switch arm 39 of the multi-pole switch structure so that acoin, such as'the coin 31, illustrated by dotted lines in Fig. 4 passingdownwardly through the straight portion of the chute 28 will wedgebetween the switch arm 39 and a suitable spacer 32 which surrounds theshaft 29.

The normal distance between the switch arm 30 and the spacer 32 is madesomewhat less than the diameter of the coin with which the device is tobe used so that as the coin moves downwardly to the position illustratedin Fig. 4, the switch arm 30 will be displaced to the left asillustrated by the change in its position from Fig. 3 to Fig. 4. Theswitch arm 3!! may be pivotally supported as at 33 and include a bellcrank portion 34 which carries an insulating roller '35 bearing againsta lower spring member 36 of the switch 20.

" The switch 20 includes a three contact switch structure including themember 35 and a pair of adjacently disposed members 31 and 38 soarranged that as the member 36 is moved upwardly, an electrical circuitis established between the member 36 and the members 31 and 38. Theswitch structurelll also includes a double-throw switch structurecomprising a normally closed stationary contact 39 and a normally openstationary contact 49 between which is positioned a movable contactmember 4|. The member-4 1 is connected to the upper spring contactmember 38 as by means of an insulating connecting member 42 so thatupward movement of the member 38 will result in the opening of thenormally closed contacts 39' and the closing of the normally opencontact 40.

The shaft 29 of the timing mechanism is arranged to be driven at aconstant speed by a suitber 22 as by means of screws 5|.

- entertaimnent reproduction.

The time controlled cam 22 which is secured to the shaft 29 isaccordingly provided with three switch controlling notches 43 spacedequally about the periphery of the cam member 22, which cam memberpreferably comprises a flat circular disk so disposed as to lie closelyadjacent the outer surface of the members 23 and 24 and under the switcharm 30. The lower, end of the switch arm 30 is turned inwardly to extendacross the path of a coin travelling along the straight portion 28 ofthe coin chute.

Each of the notches 43 comprise cam, control surfaces adapted to controlthe movement of the switch arm 30 by the rotary movement of the cammember 22. Each of the notches 43 include a relatively deep portion 44defined by a substantially radial surface 45 and a sloping surface 46which is-preferably rounded as at 41 at the junction of the surface 46with the outer periphery of the member 22. The notches 43 each include ashallower notch portion contiguous to the deep portion 44 and includinga circumferential surface 48 and a substantially radial surface 49extended between the surface 48 and the outer circumference of themember 22.

Since in the form of the invention illustrated the cam member 22embraces three time periods, it also carries three actuating pins 59illustrated as axially extending sleeves secured to the mem- The members59 are likewise spaced equidistant about the center of rotation of thecam member 22 and are arranged to successively engage an overlyingtrigger portion 52 of a coin arresting control member 53 which ispivotally secured to the base member 8 as by means of a pivot screw 54.

The coin control member 53 is normally urged a counter-clockwisedirection to a non-operated position bearing against a stop 55 as bymeans of atension spring 58. The coin control member 53 includes anupper coin engaging portion 51 and a lower coin engaging portion 58,these portions being so disposed as to extend be neath the cam member 22and into the straight portion 28 of the coin chute. The portions 5? and58 are made of such length that one or the other but not both of theseportions may extend into the coin chute a distance sufficient to engagea coin and arrest its passage through the coin chute, the one which soengages the coin depending upon the position then occupied by the coincontrol member 53.

As is illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5, the coin engaging portions E'land 58are spaced from each other a distance such that when the member 53 ismoved from its non-operated position which is illustrated in Fig. 4 toits operated position which is illustrated in Fig. 5, the lower coinengaging portion 58 will be withdrawn a distance sufficient to-allow thecoin 3! to proceed downwardly past the portion 58 while at the same timethe portion 51 will be projected into the chute in a position to passbeneath a subsequently deposited coin 59 resting upon the previous coin3i so that the coin 59 will be held against further downward movement asis illustrated in Fig. 5 until the coin control member 53 is returned toits nonoperated position.

Reference has been had hereinbefore to the adaptor unit 7. This unit isillustrated in more detail in Fig. 9 as including a field supply unitarea-see Mounted on the support 64 I provide :a control transformer 55adapted to supply low voltage alternating current for control purposes,an audionatching transformer 61 employed for the purpose of matching thetransmission line impedance to the output impedance of the automaticphonograph 2 or other central source of entertainment and a controlrelay indicated generally at ca. Power for operating the system isconveyed over the attachment cord 5 which is preferably connected to theadaptor unit :1 and a cable 69 may supply such power to the field supplyunit 60, the rectified direct current output of which is conveyed to theterminal boards 55 as by means of a cable 10.

When the system is used to reproduce entertainment from an automaticphonograph, the adaptor unit may be so arranged as to furnish power foroperating the phonograph as by supplying the power from the adaptor unit1 by means of a cable ll, and a pair of conductors comprising a cable l3may be employed to establish a control connection between the adaptorand a bump-switch incorporated in the phonograph 2 and employed in amanner to be described hereinafter. The music or reproducedentertainment is conveyed from the automatic phonograph 2 or otherentertainment source to the transformer '67 by means of acable 12.

The manner in which the above described instrumentalities areinterconnected and the .manner in which they cooperate to achieve thestated objects of the invention can perhaps best be had by havingreference to the wiring diagram Fig. and describing the operation of thedevice with reference to that diagram while carrying the description ofthe electrical connections along concurrently therewith.

.As is shown in Fig. 10, power for operating the system is conveyed tothe auxiliary unit 1 through the attachment cord 5, conductors I4 and ofwhich are connected to a primary winding 76 of the control powertransformer 66. One terminal of a secondary winding ll of thistransformer is preferably grounded and is extended by means of agrounded conductor 18 included in the interconnecting cable 3 to each ofthe control units I. Two of such control units are illustrated in Fig.10 and the mechanism associatedtherewith is illustrated as beingenclosed in the dot-dash rectangles IA and IB.

Prior to the deposit of a coin in the coin slot H the parts of each ofthe control units i will occupy the position shown in Fig. 3. When acoin is deposited it will pass down through the vertical portion 26 ofthe coin chute and then along the angled portion thereof until itarrives at a position at which it becomes wedged between the spacer 32on the timer shaft 29 and the inturned end of the switch arm 30. Thiswedging action will cause the switch arm 39 to be moved to the positionshown in Fig. 4, which movement will move the contact spring 36 adistance suflicient to electrically interconnect the springs 38, 31 and3B. This movement will also move the spring 4.! a sufficient distanceupwardly to contact the spring 49, the resilience of the spring 39beingsuflicient to follow the movement of the spring 41 to maintaincontact between the springs 39 and 4| even after the initial contactbetween the springs 41 and 4E.

The connections established by the interconnection of the springs 36 and31 will close the circuit to a synchronous electric motor comprising thetiming element connected to the timing shaft 29. The connectionsestablished by the interconnection of the springs 31 and 38 will supplycurrent through the field winding of the speaker in the control unit Iin which the coin has been deposited while the interconnection ofsprings4| and 40 will complete circuit through the voice coil of the speaker.Thus upon the initial deposit of the coin the speaker of the con-- trolsystem will be instantly connected for active reproduction of theentertainment emanating from the automatic phonograph or other centralsource of entertainment with which the control units may be associated.

The circuit thus established for the synchronous motor Bll extends fromone terminal of the transformer Ti .by way of a conductor 18 whichextends as a line conductor to each of the control units vI, at each ofwhich units a branch 18a extends to the contact spring '37. Thence thecircuit extends through the contact spring 36 and conductor 19, throughthe windings 80 of the synchronous .motor 80 and thence by way oiconductor 8i to a line conductor 82, which line conductor 82 extendsfrom the opposite terminal of the transformer T1 to connection with eachof the control units l employed in the system.

Thus the initial deposit of the coin causes the timing motor 8:! toslowly rotate the timing cam 22 in a counter-clockwise direction. Wherethe control units are associated with an automatic phonograph such asthat shown in Fig. 2, the initial closing of the contact springs 40 andM to establish connection therebetween may be utilized to complete acircuit starting the automatic phonograph into operation, this circuitextending from the line conductor 18 through conductor 18a and a branchconductor 83 to the contact spring 41, thence to the contact spring 40and through conductor 84 which extends to a relay coil 85 in the adaptorunit, and thence through conductor 86 to the ungrounded terminal of thecontrol power secondary winding TI. The closing of the normally opencontacts 40 thus serves to energize the control relay coil 85 to closeeach of its normally open contacts 85a and 85b. The normally opencontact 85b is included in a circuit comprising a conductor 81(connected to the conductor .15) and a conductor 8 8. The conductor 88is one of the two conductors com prising the cable 11 previouslyreferred to as supplying power to the mechanism of the automaticphonograph 2, the other conductor of the cable 71 comprising a conductor89 which is con nected to the conductor I4 of the power supply circuit6. Conductors '88 and 89 are shown as cable H in Fig. 9. Theenergization of the relay 85 resulting in the closing of the contacts85!) thus serves to energize the electrical mechanism included in theautomatic phonograph 2 and so places the phonograph .in operation. Atthe same time the closing of the contacts 851) completes a circuitextending between the conductor 81 and a conductor 90 which is connectedto the input side of the field supply unit 60, the other input 9;terminal of the unit 60 being connected as by means of a conductor 9| tothe conductor 14.

The output of the field supply unit is conveyed to the balance of thesystem through the cable 79', one conductor 92 of which is connected tothe grounded line conductor I8 and the other conductor of which isconnectedto a line conductor 93 included in the interconnecting cable 3and extended into connection with all of the control units I asindicated in Fig. 10. Conductors 92 and 93 are indicated as cable HI inFig. 9.

In each of the control units I the conductor 93 is connected as by meansof a conductor 94 to. one terminal of a field winding 95 comprising themagnet portion of the electrodynamic loud speaker I I previouslyreferred to. The other terminal of the fieldpwinding 95 is connected asby means of a conductor 9B-to the aforementioned contact; spring 38which, itwill: be recalledis upon the initial deposit of a coinmovedinto engagement with the contact spring 31 to which is connected thegrounded conductor I8. The closing of the circuit between the switchcontact springs 3'1 and 39 thus serves to connect the field winding 95across the output of the field supply unit 60 so as to place the loudspeaker I! in an operative condition.

The voice coil or signal receiving element of the loud speaker I1 ,isillustrated in Fig. as comprising a coil 91. Thiscoil is connected to a,secondary winding.98 of. an impedancematching transformer 99. Theprimary winding of the transformer 99-has one terminal connected as bymeans of a conductor I 99 to the aforementioned grounded line conductorI8 and the other terminal is connected I to a fifth line conductor Hllincluded the interconnecting cable 3.

Within theadaptorunit I the conductor IBI is connected to a secondarywinding I02 of the impedance matching transformer 61 previously referredto, the other terminal of the secondary I92 being connected as by meansof a-conductor I93 to-the grounded line conductor I8. Conductors InlandI93 areshown as cable 3 in Fig. 9. It is thus apparent that anysignalvoltages generated in the-secondaryIiI-Z are impressed acrossconductors IEI'I and-I8 and are thus applied to the'primary winding ofthe matching transformer 99 and from there to the voice coil 91 of thespeaker I'I'so-that these signal currents are reproduced ascorresponding sounds at the location of the control unit.

The impedance matching transformer 6'! is provided witha primary winding94 which is connectedby means of conductors I95 and I96 to the signaloutput terminals of the reproducing apparatus comprising the automaticphonograph 2. Thus any music or other entertainment which is-reproducedby the placing of the automatic phonograph 2 in operation is reproducedas sound at the location of the control unit in whichthe coin wasdeposited. Conductors I95 and I95-are shown as cable I2 in Fig.- 9; 1

When the timing motor is started and the cam I 22. begins to rotate, thecurved portion 41 of the notch 43 will press against the inturned end ofI the switch arm or lever 39 and cause the lever to be moved slightlyfurther to the left, which in turn moves the several contact springs tothe position shown in Fig. 5, obtaining contact be tween the switchsprings 49 and II but separating the contact springs M and 39. Thisadditional flexing of the contact springs performs two func- :tions;first, the opening of the circuit to the lights 65' and, second, causingthe contact points on the springs to slide somewhatmelative to eachother to provide a- Wiping action between them.

.The purpose of-extinguishing the lights I5 will be made more apparenthereinafter.

Assuming now that two or more coins such as the coins 3| and 159have-been deposited in the coin chute II, I have shown how the mechanismis placed in operation by the engagement of the first coin with theswitch arm 39 so as to I effect the reproduction of the recordedmaterial at the location of that one of the control units in which thecoin was inserted. As the cam member 22 continues to rotate as a resultof the 4 energization of the motor 80, one of the actuating members 59is brought into engagement with the trigger arm 52 of the coin controlmember 53 so as to move that member from its normal position illustratedin Figs. 3 and '4 to a coin releasing position such as'that illustratedin Fig. 5.

It will be noted that the coin 3I- is held in the position illustratedin Fig. 4 by the lower coin engagingportion 58 of the member 53 whenthat member is in its normal position. Upon movement of the member to acoin releasing position such-as is illustrated in Fig. 5, the portion 58is retracted a distance sufficient to allow the coin .3I to fall intothe coin receiver comprising the unoccupied space defined within thebase mem: her 8-: Theretractingmovement of the portion 58 is accompaniedby an inward movement of the portion 51 which extends into the coinchute at-a point disposed between the coins 3| and 59 so as to passbeneath the coin 59 and hold the samewithin the chute until the member53' is I restored to its initial position.

It will be notedthatduring this movement of the-coin control member 53,the switch arm 30 is held in its fully operated position by engage.-

: mentof the inturned end portion thereof with the outer periphery ofthe cam 22.. As soon as the actuating member 59 ismoved a distancesufficient to clearthe end of the trigger 52, the springili will restorethe member 53 to its normal position as is il1ustrated in-Figs.'-4 and6. This "Reference has been had heretofore to the elec socket 5;-Thelights 15 are pr ferab y included serves to withdraw the coinengaging portion 5! and re-insert the coinengaging-portion 58, al,lowing the coin 59. to drop to the position initially occupied by thecoin 3|, all as indicated in Figs.

I fiand- 6.

;In order to prevent possible jamming of the mechanism bythe insertionof an under-sized coin, which might make the next following coin to bedisposed too far down relative to the coin engaging portion 51, thetrigger 52 may be formed as a piece separate from the member 53 and maybe pivoted theretoby means of. a screw as indicated at 52c, the trigger52 being held against movement relative to the member 53 as by means ofa spring 5212 which is wound about the screw 52c and has its oppositeends engaged, respectively, below the actuating member 53 and thetrigger 52. The strength of the spring 52c should be such that it willnot yield except upon the exertion of abnormal force on the spring 52which would be occasioned by the jamming of the finger against the sideof the next uppermost coin.

Upon the completion of the first period of entertainment reproductionperiod paid for by the deposit of the coin 3|, the cammember 22 willhave moved to a position bringing the next notch therein adjacent theinturned end portion of the arm 39. It will be noted by'having referenceto Fig. 6 that movement of the switch structure 28 to a normal positionis, however, prevented by the presence of the coin 59, the switch arm 33being permitted only a slight amount of inward movement sufiicient tobring it into engagement with the periphery of the coin 59.

The circuits established by the switch structure 20 upon the deposit ofthe coin 3| are thus maintained by the coin 59 so that the cam member 22continues to rotate as before described. Thereafter the next actuatingmember 50 is brought into engagement with the trigger 52 and the abovedescribed operation of the coin control member 53 is repeated so as todrop the coin 59 into the coin receiver in the same manner as previousldescribed in connection with the coin 3|. Here again the switch arm 30is maintained in its fully operated position by its engagement with theouter periphery of the cam member 22. A few seconds before reaching theend of the second period of reproduction; namely, the period which hasbeen paid for by the deposit of the second coin 59, the cam member 22will have been moved to a position such as that illustrated in Fig. '7',bringing the. shallow notch portion 48 adjacent the switch arm 30 so asto allow the arm 30 to move inwardly to an intermediate position such asthat illustrated in Fig. 7.

This movement of the switch arm serves to move the various contactelements of the switch structure 20 a distance sufficient to close thenormally closed contact 39 but not suflicient to open the contactbetween contacts 40 and 4|, without, however, interrupting the circuitsestablished through the switch fingers 36, 31 and 38.

Th s movement of the switch will cause reestablishment of the circuitthrough the lights I 5 constituting a warning that the time period ofentertainment purchased by the last deposited coin is about to end sothat the customer may, if he desires, deposit a new coin or coinswithout interrupting his listening to the entertainment. 7 It isintended that the translucent or transparent window [3 be provided withsuitable baffies' or barriers within the interior of the housing 9 so asto limit the illumination afforded by the lamps I5 to a relatively smallarea of the window 13. For example, in a commercial model of myinvention, I have so arranged the window l3 that the portion which iscontinuously illuminated by the lamps I4 glows with a pleasing colorsuch as blue and isinscribed with the legend Deposit one to fivepennies. The limited area which is illuminated bythe lamps I5 is coloreda contrasting color such as a bright red and bears the large inscriptionNow. Thus during the normal operation of the device the lighted window[3 merely urges a customer to de 12' posit one to' five pennies, Upon.arrival at. the point where the switch arm 3.0. moves into the shallownotch 44 the remainder of the legend is illuminated and the customer isurged to deposithis money Now.

If the additional coins are deposited as re.- quested, the first of.such additional coins will fall to the position occupied by coin 3| inFig. 4 and so hold. the. switch arm in its operative position andmaintainv the circuit completed through the timing motor 80-. This willserve to bring the curved nose portion 41 of the cam. notch 45 intoengagement with the switch arm 30 and move the switch sufficiently toreopen the normally closed contacts 39 and the: word Now again becomes.obscured.

If, on the other hand, the additional. coins: are not deposited, themovement of the switch arm 30 into the deep: notch 46: will restore theswitch structure to. itsv non-operative position. such as is illustratedin Fig. 3, thus. deenergizing the tim ing motor opening contacts Hand 38to disconnect the field of the speaker in that control unit and openingcontacts 40 and M to deenergize the circuit between the. control unit.and the relay 85.

Deenergizing the circuit for the relay would stop the phonograph 2 butin view of the fact that the end of the time period for which the lastpenny paid for may not. coincide with the end of the record which hadbeen. playing on thephonograph 2, the immediate stopping of thephonograph with the reproducerneedle resting on the record might resultin perforation or injury to the phonograph record disk. It is thereforedesirable that irrespective of the operation of the switch structure 20to: its non-operativev position, the phonograph mechanism should. becontinued in operation until the end of the record is reached and thereproducer is separated from the record beforev the phonograph isactually stopped. To insure this continued operation of the phonographuntil the end of the record is reached, I connect the normally opencontacts 850; of the relay 85 in a self-holding" circuit extended bymeans of a conductor ['08 from conductor 84 through the. normally opencontact 85a and by means of a conductor I09 embodied in theaforementioned cable 13 to a bumpswitch i It provided on the automaticphonograph 2. From the bump-switch H0 the circuit returns via conductorHI also embraced within the cable 13 and into connection with thegrounded line conductor 18.

The bump-switch H0 is a normally closed switch so positioned as to bemomentarily opened upon arrival of the reproducing head at the end ofeach recording. It will thus be seen that when the relay 85 is initiallyenergized, a self-holding circuit is established through the contacts85a.

If a sufficient number of coins is deposited to maintain the phonograph2 in operation for a period of time longer than that required toreproduce one full recording, the bump-switch l'fll will be momentarilyopened at the time the recordings are automatically changed by thephonograph mechanism. This will not, however, serve to deenergize therelay 85 because the initial energizing circuit thereto is completed byway of conductor 84 and the normally open contacts 40 included in theswitch structure 20. However, upon the opening of the circuit 84 as atthe end of the time period paid for by the deposit of coins in thecontrol station I, the relay as will be maintained energized through theself-holding circuit until the record then being reproduced is finallycompleted, at which time the momentary opening of the bump-switch I IDwill deenergize the relay 85 and subsequently stop the operation of theautomatic phonograph. It will be noted, however, that even though theautomatic phonograph is by this means maintained in operation, thereproduction of the recorded entertainment at the location of thecontrol unit I is arrested at the time the switch structure 20 is movedto its non-operated position by the opening of the circuit between theswitch fingers 31 and 38. The interruption of this circuit serves todeenergize the field structure95, whereupon the loud speaker I7 isrendered substantially non-operating. r The connections above describedwith respect to the control unit Ia are duplicated in all of the controlunits I embraced within the system and it will be noted that since eachof the instrumentalities are connected in parallel with each of thecorresponding instrumentalities in the other control units, theautomatic phonograph 2 will be placed in operation by the, deposit ofthe first coin in any one of the control units I and will thereafter bemaintained in operation a length of time sufficient to supply thereproduced entertainment which is paid for by the subsequent deposit ofcoins in any of the other control stations.

-Attention is directed particularly to the manner in which the loudspeakers i! are each connected to the system and the manner in whichthese loud speakers are controlled. It will be noted first that'thesignal circuits for each of the loud speakers are connected in parallelacross the signal supply lines and that the loud speakers are renderedoperative or inoperative by the ener gization or de-energization of thefield windings thereof. Thus the load impedance which is connectedacross the signal circuit remains substantially constant irrespective ofthe number of loud speakers I l which are inoperative condition so thatit is possible to accurately match the various transmission impedancesto insure high fidelity of the reproduction at eachand every controlstation irrespective of the number of control stations at which therecorded entertainment is actually being reproduced. A second veryadvantageous feature which results from this arrangement is the factthat those of the loud speakers I! which are rendered inoperative by thede-energization of the field structure 95 are actually operative to avery slight extent because of the residual magnet sm of their fieldstructures. Thus when the reproducing system is placed in operation bythe 'deposit of a coin in one o'f'the control units I, the reproducedentertainment will be reproduced as sound at the location of thatcontrol station, the intensity of such sound being preferably adjustedto provide an adequate volume for those persons situated immediatelyadjacentthat control station but absolutely inadequate to providesatisof the entertainment at such a low..'volume' as to beunsatisfactory for entertainment purposes but at a sufiicient volume tomake them conscious of the fact that there is a particular musicalselection, song or other entertainment being reproduced, therebyinducing a desire in such persons to deposit coins in the control unitsso that the entertainment maybe reproduced at a volume adequate forentertainment purposes.

Still a third advantage resides in the employment of the loud speakerarrangement being discussed. This advantage resides in the fact that thefield flux which is generated by the field windings builds up relativelyslowly upon the completion of the field winding circuit and similarlycollapses relatively slowly upon the interruption of this circuit due,of course, to the relatively high inductance of the field windings. Thisserves to brin the loud speakers smoothly into operation and to causetheir operation to cease gradually upon the deenergization of the fieldwindings in contra-distinction to the abrupt turning off and on of thedevice which results from the conventional circuit arrangements in whichthe signal circuit itself is closed and opened by an ordinary switch orrelay structure.

I have found that this gradual building up of volume upon the deposit ofa coin in the control units and the gradual fading out Of the sound atthe conclusion of the time period paid for by the deposit of such coinis of definite value in a definite. time system such as is hereindisclosed for the reason that almost invariably the starting andstopping of the actual reproduction occurs at'some time other than theactual beginning or end of the musical selection or other entertainmentwhich is reproduced during the period paid for. of the operation of thedevice at the beginning and end of the period paid for is abrupt as inthe ordinary switching arrangements, the customer for some reasonimmediately draws the conclusion that the device has failed to operateasintended and similarly feels that this failure can be cured byhammering on the control unit with whatever instrument is at hand. Thedisastrous results of such conduct appear to be almost entirely avoidedby causing the starting and terminatingof the operation to beaccomplished in a smooth and gradual manner as above described.

The coin slot I I which is provided in the upper portion of the housing9 is preferably sized to correspond rather closely to the size of thecoin which it is intended to be deposited in the device so as toautomatically prevent the deposit of larger coins than intended. Itoccasionally happens, however, that a customer will inadvertentlydeposit a smaller sized coin in the slot II. For example, if the deviceis arranged to be operated by nickels, a customer will occasionallydeposit a penny, and similarly if the device is arranged for operationby the deposit of pennies, a customer will occasionally deposit a dime.This tends to jam the .coin control mechanism.

It willbe noted by having reference to Fig. 4 that if the coin 3| and/orthe coin 59 is of a lesser diameter than indicated inFig. 4, the in;-1ward movement of the upper coin engaging portion 51 upon movement ofthe coin control member 53 will be very apt to bring the end of theprojection 5'! into engagement with the side of the uppermost coinrather than to cause the sameto pass under the'coin as is illustrated inFig. 5. As this condition prevents further move-- ment of thecoincontrol? member 53,,the'. trigger 52"by .itsLengagement with theactuating memi- If the starting and terminating her so will tend to stopthe rotation. of the cam member 22.

Because of the high gear ratio between the timing motor Bi] and theshaft 29, it is found that such a jamming oi the mechanism. does not infact stall the motor 3G but instead results in either the twisting offof the shaft 29 or the stripping of the gears in the gear reductionunit. I have provided against this disastrous consequence by employingat the lower end of the coin chute a spring member H2 which may be ofhairpin 01m having one end secured to the base structure 8 as by meansof a screw H3 and having the other end coiled as indicated at H4 and:normally disposed in such position that the innermost edge of the coiledportionv H4 defines a continuation of the. lower portion of the chuteThisv disposition of the spring H2 is clearly illustrated in Figs. 3through '7. With this ar 'rangement if for any reason the coin engagingprojection 51 engages the side of the upper coin 59 rather than passingunderneath such coin as intended, the coin is permitted to movelaterally to flex the spring H2 and thereby permit sufficient movementof the coin control-member '53 as to allow the actuating member 50 topass beyond the end of and clear the trigger 52.

However, in addition to the above provision, I prefer to secure the cammember 22 to the shaft 29 through a friction drive or slip clutcharrangement so that in the extremely unlikely event that the mechanismwill become jammed and further rotation of the cam member 22 will beprevented, the shaft 29 may continuev in its rotation to thus preventthe twisting off of the shaft 29 or the stripping of the gears in thegear reduction unit.

I have illustrated in Fig. 8 a novel and simple form of construction forproviding such a friction drive or slip clutch arrangement. As isillustrated in Fig. 8 the cam member 222 preferably comprises a flatdisk to which is securely affixed by any suitable means a hub portion "1I5. The hub portion 55 is bored as indicated to receive the shaft 29 andis provided also with a laterally extending bore H6 suitably threaded toreceive a set screw in by means of which the hub H may be secured to theshaft 29. In assembling the device the set screw ii! is removed and apelletor small cylinder H3 of suitable friction material such as leather(preferably sole leathersuch as is used in the manufacture of shoes) isinserted into the bore Ht before the set screw H"! is screwed therein.The set screw H! is then tightened very securely with the result thatthe leather H8 is compressed between the set screw i ii and the shaft29.

Ihave found that this provides a sufficient frictional engagementbetween the cam member 22 and the shaft 29 to accomplish the normalintended operation of the device. intact, the slip connection thusprovided will not. slip until a restraining torque is applied to the cammember 22' which is substantially three times the normal restrainingtorque effected by the switch. arm 30 and the coin controi member Itwill thus be seenthat irrespective of the. size or type of coins orslugs which may be deposited in the device, the twisting off of theshaft 29, the stripping of the gears in the reduction gear unit, and theburning out of the motor 88 as a result of the stalling of that motorare avoided.

- In the. foregoing description the timing disk '22: and. the locationof the triggerengaging memhers 50 adapt the time period for each coindeposited for a 4-minute length of entertainment. The time period may bereadily altered by substituting a. difierent timing disk 22 havingnotches 43 spaced at different intervals about its periphery; forexample, the disk 22 may be substituted for by a disk containing fourequally spaced notches to divide the total time period of rotation ofthe shaft 29 (12 minutes) into four intervals of three minutes each, ora disk 22 having two notches might be substituted dividing the timeinterval of twelve minutes into two periods of six minutes each. The hubH5 may be initially bored with a plurality of extra threaded holesdistributed as shown in Fig. 8 so that upon the substitution of a timingdisk 22 with a different number of notches a number of trigger engagingmembers 50 may be used in place of the three members 50 employed with a3-notch disk. By properly locating the threaded bores I20, the hub maybe. adapted for one, two, three or four equal divisions of the totaltime period of twelve minutes for each rotation of the shaft From theforegoing it will be observed that I have provided a sound reproducingsystem which is simple in construction and which may be readily andeasily installed in substantially any desired location.

As has been pointed out hereinbefore, the device operates on a definitetime principle whereby a customer is provided with'continuousentertainment over a number of uninterrupted time periods correspondingto the number of coins which are deposited in the coin unit.

Each and every one of the various contro stations operates independentlyof the other as regards the reproduction of entertainment at the.location of such control units but operates in a dependent manner withrespect to the control or operation of the automatic phonograph unit.

While I have shown and described the preferred embodiment of myinvention, I do not desire to be limited to any of the details ofconstruction shown or described herein, except as defined in theappended claims.

I claim:

1. In a coin control unit for a sound reproducing system, thecombination of: means defining a coin channel; control means includingan operating member extending into said channel and. engageable by acoin in said channel to move said control means to an operatingposition; a. timing means including a. member movable in response tomovement of said control means to an operating position for defining atime period of predetermined duration; means mounting said movablemember in a position to be moved into engagement with said operatingmember to there'- by hold said control. means in said operating positionuntil the expiration of said time period; movable stop means in saidchannel normally disposed in a. position to arrest said coin in alocation engaging said operating member; and means on said stop meanspositioned to be engaged by said movable member before the ex.- pirationof. said time period and move said stop means to a position permittingsaid coin to pass through said channel.

2. In a coin actuated time control mechanism, the combination of: a coinchute for receiving a coin and. including a channel for guiding the coinalong a path extending generally downward; a timing disk mounted forrotary movement and.

17 disposed adjacent said channel; means for rotating said disk at apredetermined speed to define intervals of time; a multi-pole switchbiased to assume a normal position; a switch operating lever for movingsaid switch from the normal position to an intermediate position and toan extreme position; means mounting said lever adjacent said coinchannel to dispose said lever in the path of a coin passing through saidchannel whereby the switch is moved to its extreme position by the coin;means actuated by said switch when in either its intermediate positionor extreme position for actuating said disk rotating means; and leverengaging means on said disk for holding said lever in the extreme switchoperating position for a predetermined interval of time measured by therotation of said disk and for holding said lever in said intermediateswitch operating position for another predetermined. interval of timemeasured by the rotation of said disk, said multiple switch including aplurality of circuit controlling contacts arranged to be actuated to onecircuit controlling position when said switch is in said intermediateposition and to be actuated to another circuit controlling position whensaid switch is in said extreme position.

3. In a coin actuated time control mechanism, the combination of: a coinchute for receivin a coin and including a channel for guiding the coinalong a path extending generally downward; a timing disk mounted forrotary movement and disposed adjacent said channel; means for rtatingsaid disk at a predetermined speed to define intervals of time; anelectric switch biased to assume a normal position; a switch operatinglever for moving said switch from the normal position to an operatingposition upon movement of said lever; means mounting said lever adjacentsaid coin channel to dispose said lever in the path of a coin passingthrough said channel whereby the switch is moved to its operatingposition by the coin; means actuated by the movement of said switchoperating lever for starting said disk rotating means; means on saiddisk engageable with said switch operating lever for holding said switchin operating position through a predetermined interval of rotation ofsaid disk independent of the position of the coin; coin arresting meandisposed adjacent said channel and projecting therein to arrest a coinin switch operating position; and means on said disk for engaging saidcoin arresting means at some time within the interval of time measuredby said disk for moving said arresting means out of the path of a coinprior to the expiration of said time interval.

4. In a coin actuated time control mechanism, the combination of: a coinchute for receivin a coin and includin a channel for guiding the coinalong a path extending generally downward; a timing disk mounted forrotary movement and disposed adjacent said channel; means for rotatingsaid disk at a predetermined speed to define intervals of time; anelectric switch biased to assume a normal position; a switch operatinglever for moving said switch from the normal position to an operatingposition upon movement of said lever; means mounting said lever adjacentsaid coin channel to dispose said lever in the path of a coin passingthrough said channel whereby the switch is moved to its operatingposition by the coin; means actuated by the movement of said switchoperating lever for starting said disk rotating means; means on saiddisk engageable with said switch operating lever for holding said switchin operating position through a predetermined interval of rotation ofsaid disk independent of the position of the coin; coin arresting meansdisposed adjacent said channel and projecting therein to arrest a coinin switch operating position; means on said disk for engaging said coinarresting means at some time within the interval of time measured bysaid disk for moving said arresting means out of the path of a coinprior to the'expiration of said time interval; and means on said coinarresting means projectable into said channel above the position of acoin in switch operating position to engage and hold higher coin in saidchannel when the first coin is released by said arrestin means.

5. In a coin actuated time control mechanism, the combination of: a coinchute for receiving a coin and includin a channel for guiding the coinalong a path extending generally downward; a timing disk mounted forrotary movement and disposed adjacent said channel; means for rotatingsaid disk at a predetermined speed to define intervals of time; amulti-pole electric switch including a plurality of contact bearingsprings biased to assume a normally open position for at least two setsof its contacts; a switch operating lever for moving said switch springsfrom the normal position to an intermediate position closing at leastone pair of its contacts, and to an extreme position closing all of itscontacts; means mounting said lever adjacent said coin channel todispose said lever in the path of a coin passing through said channelwhereby the switch is moved to at least its intermediate position by thecoin; means actuated by the closing of the said one pair of switchcontacts for actuating the disk rotating means; and lever engaging meanson said disk for actuating said lever to extreme switch operatingposition, said last named means including a portion for forcing thelever toward said switch operating position and another portion forholding said lever in said position during an interval of time measuredby the rotation of said disk. WILLIAM S. FARRELL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,864,649 Hansen June 28, 19322,097,456 Green Nov. 2, 1937

